Jack Black's first acting job aged 13 (Pitfall Commercial)

[@tesloche9349]

I never thought Jack Black was a child, it feels like he just spawned as an adult one day

[@johnjones7023]

He still a child at heart manchild

[@shekelmcfreckle]

@@johnjones7023I always imagined him as the chubby kid in the Tenacious D movie singing about unholy deeds in the party zone

[@theimortal1974]

he did. plot twist that "classic" comercial is really jack black's son being redone to look like a commercial from decades ago.

[@waikeonglim7703]

You aren’t the only one

[@seanwebb605]

Like one of those religious paintings where all the babies had adult faces and heads. But were still kind of weird and not really human.

[@keaton718]

He even shaved his beard for the commercial, such was his dedication to the game.

[@henrytawnn8694]

I heard that JB grew his beard back the next day. What a legend.

[@davejay6855]

It’s just a prosthetic chin and some of that good old fashion retro CGI on commodore workstations

[@Gossosgrocs]

Right, I can tell he was in Jumanji before he was in Jumanji

[@ironhell813]

Pitfall has interesting parallels to Jumanji….

[@samusvikerness661]

So cool that Jack Black was a part of video game history from his first gig! Pitfall is such an important game.

[@roxassora2706]

But I guess he still plays fuckin video gaaaaaames

[@JoeyJoeJoe]

no hes not

[@-taz-]

There's a good presentation about the making of Pitfall from its author on KZbin. Totally worth watching if you're into game development.

[@everydaychemistry6231]

Lmao he had the most believable acting in the commercial too

[@possummagic3571]

Wadiyatalkinabeet?

[@Gabo2oo]

Yeah, the two adults that followed feel like they're talking down to you, like in a little kids' show. Jack Black was truly immersed in the game instead lol

[@peytongonavy]

Like he said, "I really believed in the product." lol

[@wyattcole5452]

0:56 this would be so not allowed nowadays, especially since the graphics are better

[@pigmentpeddler5811]

i do kinda like the way suit guy said "it was really neat" though

[@darkbonnie87fan]

If there was a pitfall movie we would have a cameo of the comedic man

[@WarrenChandler]

That would be pretty cool :)

[@R3troZone]

He's already in two Jumanji movies. That's kinda like Pitfall.

[@BarberShave19]

@@R3troZone Yeah, but it's not "Pitfall" itself.

[@rifasclub]

I'm pretty sure he would play Pitfall Larry.

[@darkbonnie87fan]

To Bad jack black the kid that advertise the famous activision atari platformer....and now he bacame A mario Villain

[@mochalex]

Ah yes, some of us are old enough to remember being blown away by Pitfall's "realistic" graphics. 🤣

[@drewcrew2101]

My favorite 2600 game

[@XenuLordofTheSky]

Good for you m8.

[@Xcalibur2679]

@@XenuLordofTheSkyno good for you pal

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

It's an impressive game for the 2600. Crazy that they were able to do that on that system.

[@pablot-r9402]

Influenced by Indiana Jones (1981), and led to many a rogue-adventure game franchise, namely the Uncharted games.

[@2-Way_Intersection]

i love how jack black was always just the same guy but he got bigger

[@toxicmule]

Having JB sign my copy of Pitfall! would greatest autograph in the world. Both he and the game have both aged really well. Truly what legends are made of!

[@ScarboroughCouple]

the greatest autograph in the world? NO!, This is just a tribute

[@commentresurrection1841]

@@ScarboroughCouple Nice

[@cre8iveone699]

How many has he signed?

[@mrdaym]

I've never played it, but owning a original copy of pitfall signed by Jack Black? That would be a good one in the collection.

[@KrummyBrinkleJr.]

Its funny, you can immediately tell he's Jack solely from the amount of facial expression he makes

[@lizardguyNA]

13 in 82. Dude's 53 and he can still rock like he's in his 20s. And hey, Pitfall's one hell of a game for its time. Probably one of the earliest 2D platformers.

[@pigs18]

I watched a presentation by David Crane, the creator of Pitfall, and the tricks they used to get such an underpowered machine to run it was like performing actual sorcery. In essence, there are something like six different playfields in each frame. He even had room left over for one more which is how you get the animated Activision logo in the corner.

[@ZimtikiBar]

I was born in 1995, but my first console was an Atari 2600, and I remember thinking Pitfall looked amazing. I got the true late 70’s experience in the late 90’s.

[@DantetheHegehog14]

Man, Jack Black has phenomenal range. He went from a child, to an old lady, to a middle-aged man, to a horned-up girl. And ironically, he would play 3 out of those 4 later on in his career

[@gmann6269]

"Oh yes my dear man, mo' beeeans..." (farts)

[@Kara_Kay_Eschel]

I am trying to figure out if he was the horned-up girl or the middle aged man.

[@WraithTDK]

"It looks like a human being running and jumping!" People who did not grow up playing adventure "Here's a square cursor. That's you." Will never understand how incredible that was.

[@d.vaughn8990]

So true! 👍 With most Atari games, you were a square, shooting a square, with a dash!

[@keybyss98]

Seeing Jack Black in anything before the 2000’s is always a pleasant surprise for me tbh.

[@Tyler123-h3e]

Check out 1997 the Jackal with Bruce Willis, first time I saw him.

[@toddpinkstonisgod]

The Tenacious D series on HBO was before 2000. Good shit. Otherwise, in the ‘90s he kinda randomly popped up in small roles in a lot of movies, like The Cable Guy

[@timafiggy]

He is in Demolition man , Mar Attacks and Neverending Story 2. Hilarious too.

[@skalin23]

Cable Guy

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

Thanks for this. Loved "The graphics were like, 'WHAT!? It looks like a human being RUNNING! And jumping over stuff!!!'" Totally remember this commercial from back in the day, and Jack's performance (including his trademark "showman's hands" thing making an early appearance).

[@WarrenChandler]

Definitely agree, at the time it was incredible. Play it today and you really do realise just how far things have come :)

[@crazisaturn2274]

I like how they say who designed the game in the commercial. That almost never happens. Even in those old game commercials.

[@zanforian]

That’s Atari era Activision for ya. Founded by devs annoyed they never got any credit or pay bonuses for giving Atari 60% of its revenue.

[@Thornado78]

@@zanforian David Crane :)

[@monty4336]

I remember seeing that commercial dozens of times a day that year. I was also 13 in 1982 and had that game at home. The old school video games were not as easy to win as some think they are.

[@newlife.oldlove]

I begin to wonder about him. He's so expressive. I wonder what his early life must have been like for him to be such a good actor.

[@oldoutlet6946]

He's literally just had this same energy his whole life. Fresh out the womb: "what's poppin', mama?"

[@kevinfisher5492]

Don't forget a young Phil Hartman did an Activision Hockey commercial around the same time.

[@TruGamer128]

Jack Black was perfect for that role actually.

[@antonsaysyee]

And now he played bowser in the mario movie

[@johnjones7023]

He should do a super mario game commercial cause he has experience with both

[@brettgaulke6494]

Anyone else think it's kinda cool that Activision's logo hasn't changed hardly at all in 40 years? They're like the Ford of games lmao

[@nossenkanter]

"Every career has its pitfalls." Him: 👁️ 👄 👁️

[@colesgunz2]

The way he says ‘I really believed in the product’ 😂 what an awesome gig to get as a kid!

[@biffmcgraw]

He was in an X files episode with Giovanni Rabicci in 94 or so

[@nolanueno1060]

Imagine if his first acting was in Super Mario Bros commercial 😂

[@mr.mediocregamer9653]

I was 5 when I was playing that game. Even at 5 I understood that something was weird that the game just kept going, never ending and you always died if you tried jumping on the gaters.

[@eggballo4490]

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE YEAR 1982!!!

[@Rooki3_]

All these years and Jack Black is still on the same level.

[@thesneakertifosi]

The feeling he had is how 90s kids felt getting a PS1

[@ChrisRoth1972]

Yeah I still like Pitfall today just as much back in ‘82

[@CoyoteSeven]

David Crane was a wizard.

[@ianswift3521]

@@CoyoteSeven not at running companies.

[@paulbunyangonewild7596]

Awwww that so cuuuuuuute!!! I loved pitfall as a kid (I'm a zoomer who just happened to have a little plug and play atari game thing). I also loved Jack black as a kid, as a chubby little funny dude I saw alot of my self in him. Of course I also think he's very cute, and he's only gotten more handsome with age.❤

[@KillaK78]

I love how he says “jet black night” and it really sounds like he’s saying “jack black night”

[@edonslow1456]

Still can't get my head around how they managed to do Pitfall on an Atari 2600

[@roadtosomewhere140]

The commercial is pretty good for 82

[@michaeljohn8842]

Jack black what can I say about Jack black awesome a great person I enjoy watching movies he in and he's music so thanks for being apart of my life

[@daviddesmeules3620]

That’s a rare moment of nostalgia from my man Jack🥺. A minute of peace for the legendary Jack Black🙏

[@fallis07]

Love how back then the best video games were just like "yea this one guy made this"

[@mr_h831]

This lasted a while for some games. Minecraft was an indie game that for a very long time in it's development was just a single dude making it.

[@gamerbear84]

I love how he excitedly explained stuff EXACTLY LIKE THE DOES TO THIS DAY. lol

[@jamesbrown-fb1gk]

It was huge for the time,one of the first real videogame platformer

[@smokeldogg]

I can’t believe they stooped so low. I used to love Pitfall.

[@jackson5116]

As someone old enough to remember 1982, I know EXACTLY what he's talking about. They were really advanced. Think of the wow factor we see now with HD, and that was the way it was in the early-80's.

[@rooty]

There's no wow factor with hd

[@alanduncan1980]

@@rooty don't be such a dick. You get what he means.

[@robwebnoid5763]

Definitely a wow factor in the days of Pitfall, because it was a step up from the previous computer graphics era of Pong. I still have my Coleco Telstar console & Atari VCS/2600 console, both bought in the late 1970's.

[@ianswift3521]

@@rooty there was for people who grew up on first generation 3d systems.

[@rooty]

@@ianswift3521 yes but he said now

[@allys744]

Even as a child, Jack was always excited and animated. I’d know that intense eye gaze anywhere!

[@jimb.7523]

*Now I want to see Jack Black in an ad for the next Mario game in full Bowser costume!*

[@ricardofarias1640]

One thing for sure that man found his passion.

[@ebonstone2980]

I remember watching that ad. I was very jealous of the hats.

[@nuxkamina]

Wow, i guess that was the first time i saw Jack Black. Burned into my mind at the age of 4 he was then the friend i never met ever since.

[@ThatOneGuyFromSchool]

Should make a Pitfall movie and Jack Black could play Harry

[@ianswift3521]

Pitfat.

[@dnelly9967]

I remember playing this with friends when i was a kid. It was years before our time, but we got a hold of the game and got hooked. A good game is a good game

[@ListersHatsune]

Man, he filmed this during his journey from Kickapoo to Hollywood? I've heard of Pitfall being unironically really good too!

[@jasonrideout4836]

Yup...i had this back in my younger years...remember it well

[@joerich1629]

Guess what? It still kicks ass! 2600 for life 🤘

[@thaxasaurian]

Ok baby jack black is definitely something I wasn’t expecting to see

[@alexubel]

Man this brings back memories. I remember this commercial. Never would have guessed it was Jack Black.

[@d.vaughn8990]

Pitfall! was the one Atari game, that got my pulse thumping, like I was playing at the arcade! What a great game!

[@kylewest1016]

One of Paul Rudd's first acting jobs was the first North American TV ad for the Super Nintendo

[@tobee_gamer5816]

really shows how insane stuff like that was when it was new

[@fedbia2003]

I’ve seen this commercial a hundred times. Never knew it was Black

[@mikesilverknight]

Absolutely crazy how young Jack Black looks just like how Jack Black would look if he was young.

[@lsk-nf7um]

I remember it was spring of 82 I was 12. I saw that commercial so many times. Activision and IMagic did a lot of good games back then. Good Times!

[@Can8ian.]

Wow I actually remember that commercial. Only now seeing this did I realize that was Jack Black!

[@Khanmanlol]

I'm headcanoning Bowser's Jr's voice to sound just like young Jack Black.

[@HAL_9000__]

Yup. Had it. Played it. Loved it.

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm afraid you can't go there."

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Jack needs to do this every five years and keep stacking the videos! Cool.

[@omegaman2767]

I played Pitfall on Intellivision II for hours on top of hours back in the early 80's!!

[@KuroNekoExMachina]

Pitfall is a legend, and Activision became that giant it is today.

[@ElJorro]

He's come a long way!

[@HighOverlordSnarffieBeagle]

I remember that commercial but it wasn't until maybe 5 years ago that I found out Jack Black was in it. The only reason I remember it was because I had just got the game while the commercials for it were still running so when it'd come on it'd catch my attention.

[@smellthel]

This man was born for this stuff I love Jack Black lmao

[@tonyisnotdead]

he doesn't love you, so why would you love him? there's no such thing as a good rich person

[@Jaykilla1981]

He aged so well.

[@dinosaursneverexisted8985]

makes me happy to see that he was a fan of the game he was in a commercial for

[@thunderkracke1550]

Pitfall still rocks, nice ad as well.

[@Angie2343]

Yes, at the time, the graphics were amazing! But imagine the game made with, say, Kirby and the Forgotten Land graphics or Super Mario 3D World/Odyssey graphics.

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

Spelunky 2...

[@calebsingh8501]

The good old days man

[@mauromesa78]

that boy in the commercial was you! that's super cool! i love that commercial its a treasure of my child hood and i played the game as a kid back then to me you are like a tv. star

[@mattdoesanimations]

Can't say you don't play video games no more when your in a game commercial

[@stormthrush37]

0:56 Ah, yes, Walgreen's. Known for their wide selection of fine video game products.

[@JoshO423]

You can’t kill the Metal. The Metal will live on.

[@kxmode]

Back when Activision wasn't a soulless corporate entity.

[@mresturk9336]

The irony being Activision was formed by developers who had become disillusioned with Atari behaving as a soulless corporate entity.

[@ianswift3521]

​@@mresturk9336 maybe Crane shouldn't have f'd up so badly and sunk the company into near-bankruptcy keeping the company barely in the black. too bad so sad. not every vidya gaymer programmer is suitable to be a businessowner. then kotic comes in and starts buying up developer companies left and right eventually merging with Blizzard. business is business.

[@diamondkonk1196]

@@ianswift3521 and that business failed cuz they stopped being what got them loved

[@metadata4255]

@@ianswift3521 how you feel bout tobacco executives

[@SMGJohn]

There no such thing as morally good business, business by definition is immoral.

[@Thrashpotato]

I have that same suitcase it's a lifesaver on trips and the screen is high quality

[@AfrewSpines]

I played it a hundred times and still never learned how to beat it. 😅

[@Ricardo-cl3vs]

JB actually played a different game that was way more awesome but he forgot what it was exactly like. "Pitfall" is just a tribute, based on his descriptions.

[@aratherbritishdinosaur]

😂

[@GoosyGooseMX]

The fact he was the face of the best Atari game makes this even better. Like they hired a superstar for the best game without them knowing

[@zwesley23]

1982, I wasn't a year old yet! I wish it still was the 80s.

[@ruadeil_zabelin]

I seen that commercial multiple times. I never knew it was jack black. Earliest thing i know from him is an xfiles episode in an arcade

[@rifasclub]

We need a live action of Super Pitfall with Jack Black as Pitfall Larry.

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

Fake, fly, raw sound still the one who used to Take your high score down With more rhymes than germs a spitball carry As it fly through the air like Pitfall Harry

[@RStartGaming1LOL]

He was never a child. He just shaved his beard

[@Supernumbersfromscratch]

If you told me that was jack black as a kid, I would believe you.

[@Astinsan]

I got the game because of your advert Jack..

[@atothed84]

Weird how I remember seeing this commercial, yet I wasn't born yet.

[@5265vic]

I easily remember that commercial. I had a love-hate relationship with that game.

[@KeithsTVHD1]

i really loved pitfall

[@michaelversace456]

I remember this ad. God I'm old

[@wisteela]

Love it. Fantastic that he really did like the game.

[@CatNigga]

He looks just like Jack Black too, method actors are so cool

[@telengardforever7783]

I remember seeing Jumanji and thinking "Wait, didn't I see this guy back in the 1980s wearing this exact same costume?!"

[@CaptainUnikitty]

No one can out beat jack black

[@heroessquad2019]

Even as a kid, he still looks the same.

[@Idhart]

Pitfall was such a stress inducing game. Loved it though

[@subg8858]

Pitfall was the bomb, which in retrospect is kind of hard to believe. But I was still playing pong and asteroids into the late 80s. Sometimes basic games are the best. I still could get down with some asteroids